The company paid millions of dollars in bribes to officials in Mexico, Russia and Ukraine to promote its products such as its blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries agreed to pay more than $519 million to settle U.S. criminal and civil allegations that the company bribed foreign officials to gain business for its medications, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Thursday.

The company paid millions of dollars in bribes to officials in Mexico, Russia and Ukraine to promote its products such as its blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone, the Justice Department said.

Teva will pay a $283 million penalty to settle Foreign Corrupt Practices Act allegations with the Justice Department. The company will also forfeit $236 million in profits plus interest to resolve a civil investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Teva's Russia subsidiary pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Teva, the world's biggest generic drugmaker, said none of the workers involved in the improper payments were any longer with the company, and that it had replaced its entire leadership team in Russia in 2013.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Teva was investigating claims by an anonymous tipster that the company bribed state healthcare workers in Romania.

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